Agricultural implement



April 3, 1945. A P. McKAY AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT Original Filed May 26, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l Z 2 Ca H: 2 0 a a z 2 5 M 1 ,0 4 0 5 4/0 3 0 M 5 m 6 Wm L 2 H 0 0 Mo 0 o o 4 o o i 2.

a 14 oo fl Z 1 7 I 5 v M W m H 2 M O OO O. o u ,1. M I! April 3, 1945. McKAY Re. 22,627 v AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed May 26, 1941 \NVENTOR Qugua/a p M K y- BY I Q,

M I ATTORNEY Reissuecl Apr. 3, 1945 22,627 AGRICULTURAL IIVHLEMENT Augusta P. McKay,

Rome Plow Company,

ration Original No. 2,336,410, dated December '1,

SerialNo. 437,875,

slon of Serial No. 395,25 cation for reissue July 11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in means for connecting and operating agricultural implements in connection with tractors.

The present application seeks reissue of a patent which matured from an application that was a division out of my prior application Serial No. 395,258, filed May 26, 1941.

The present invention relates to an improved agricultural implement, such as a harrow, which is particularly well adapted for connection to a light tractor, so that normally the implement will operate flexibly and freely upon the ground or material for which it is intended. The lifting mechanism of the improved implement is associated with the tractor so as to enable the implement to be entirely suspended upon the tractor, such as when it is desired to transport the implement or make a short turn with the tractor.

Other objects and advantages of this inven* tion will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the drawings, wherein similar 7 reference characters designate corresponding throughout the several views,

Figure l is a side elevation of an implement, such s a suspension type of disc barrow operatively connected with a light duty type tractor.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the details of the implement and tractor of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l, but with the power take-off and lift mechanism of the tractor operatively supporting the implement above a ground surface.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the association of the draft beam of the agricultural implement with a drawbar supported on the tractor.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the improved implement, the letter A may designate the light duty type of tractor, or any other type if desired. It has associated therewith an auxiliary power unit or lift mechanism E and which may, for example, be of the form disclosed in some detail in H. G. Ferguson Patent No. 2,118,180, issued May 24, 1938. The agricultural implement F may be of the double cutting disc harrow type. It has associated therewith an improved hitch mechanism or draft connecting means applied to a conventional air of power operated tension links pivoted on the tractor and indicated at G. Lifting mechanism H, also of conventional form, suspends the tension linkage G from the power lift mechanism E on the tracparts Cedartown. Ga., assignor to Cedartown, Ga., a corpo- April 6, 1942, which is a divi- 8, May 26, 1941. Appli- 10, 1944, Serial No.

tor A and is utilized in lifting the implement F into a suspended position such as shown in Fig.

'3. Improved means K is provided between the two sections of the harrow or implement F for operatively connecting the same for suspension purposes.

The power lift mechanism E isprovided with a. shaft I50 having lift arms I5I of well known construction.

The implement F includes front and rear sections I52 and I53. The front section I52 is provided with disc supporting gangs I54 and I55 mounted upon a suitable frame I56. This'front section also includes a central longitudinally extending draft beam I51 which at its fore portion is divided into upper and lower plates, as shown in Fig. 1. The draft beam I51 is relatively broad for a purpose to be subsequently Y described.

The rear section I53 includes a frame I having disc supporting gangs I5I and IE2. The rear section also has a longitudinally extending draft beam I63, the forward end of which is connected by means of angle braces I with the frame I60. These angle braces extend rearwardly in divergent relation.

Referring to the improved draft connection applied to the linkage G, the latter includes the usual tension links I and I8I pivotally connected at points I82 at their forward ends to the axle housing of the tractor in the manner shown for the corresponding tension links in the Ferguson patent referred to above. They extend rearwardly, slightly divergent with respect to each other, and at their rear ends are provided with hitch structure including a transverse drawbar I83. This drawbar I83 between the points of connections of the links I80 and I8I is provided with rigidly attached angle pieces I85 and I86, in pairs, which extend convergently forward. At their front ends they rigidly support a pull plate I90. This pull plate I receives a vertically disposed coupling pin I9I to which the front end of the draft beam I51 of the implement F is pivotally attached. As before mentioned, the front end of the draft beam I51 is constructed of upper and lower plate sections. The drawbar I93 is disposed between these sections in a transverse sliding but otherwise snug non-tilting relation.

The lever arms I5I of the power lift mechanism E are provided with longitudinally adjustable lift bars 205 and 205, the same having a universal pivot connection with the levers I5I and at their lower ends being pivotally connected as at 2Il with the tension links IIII and IBI, intermediate the ends of the latter. It will be understood that raising of the levers III pulls the links I80 and III upwardly and lifts the implement F in a manner to be subsequently detailed. r

The front section I 52 of the implement F is provided with an upstanding member or standard H5, at the front end thereof, immediately above the drawbar I83, to which is pivotally connected a brace bar or compression link 220, at MI. The bar 220 is connected at 223 with the rear end of the tractor frame. These connections HI and 223 are above the tension links I 80 and I8I so that the front section of the harrow or implement! will be lifted in a horizontal plane when the lift mechanism E is operated.

Referring to the connections of the front and rear sections of the implement F, a coupling 250 is provided which has nection at I with the rear end of the draft beam of the front section I 52 and a horizontal axis connection at 252 with the front end of the draft beam of the rear section.

The means K includes a cross piece 26!) upon the frame of the front section I52 at a location higher than any point of the rear section framework, and at each side of the longitudinal central axis of the implement springs 210 and 2" are connected with this cross piece 260. By means of adjustable bolts 212, these springs 210 and 2' are connected with the angle braces I62 at each side of the longitudinal axis of the implement. The springs 210 and 2' diverge rearwardly for the purpose of insuring proper alignment of the rear section as it is lifted into suspended position. I prefer also to provide a normally slack chain 280, located along the longitudinal center of the implement, connected at one end to the bar 260 and at the other end to a point 28I upon the framework of the rear section. This chain is very slack during operation of the implement and even when the implement is in suspended position. It only operates to prevent excessive vibration of the rear section and prevent rupture of the springs 210 and 2'" should the strain upon the springs be too great because of passing of the tractor over irregular ground surfaces, etc.

The operation of the implement as it is drawn by the tractor will be apparent from the foregoing. The two sections of the implement F are entirely flexible and may move bodily upwardly or downwardly with respect to each other and tilt angularly with respect to each other, due to the universal type of coupling connection between them. The entire implement and especially the front section may pivotally move upwardly, downwardly and sideways with respect to the tractor. Since the pivot point at IIII for lateral swing of the draft beam is located closely adjacent the rear end of the tractor, the implement is closely coupled to the tractor, thereby minimizing the turning radius. The draft load is, however, transmitted from the draft beam I51, by compression through the supports I85 and I86, back to the drawbar I83 which is located rearwardly of the pivot point and adjacent the trailing ends of the links I80, I8I.

As the lifting arms IiI pull the tension links Iflli and IOI upwardly, it can readily be understood that this will lift the drawbar I82, and. due to the action of the compressively loaded link 220 above described, the front section will be lifted in substantially a horizontal position. It will not tilt sidewise due to the close fitting connection a vertical ivot axis conate with all of its flexibility and efliciency under normal circumstances. In addition, I have proday in cultivation and reclamation work, as well as in use of construction and highway projects.

Various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be made to the forms of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a, tractor, an auxiliary power unit, a pair of tension links connected with the tractor at each side of the longitudinal axis thereof and extending rearwardly therefrom in divergent relation, a transverse drawbar connected at the rear ends of said links, lift means connected with the power unit of the tractor and intermediate the ends of said links for lifting the latter upwardly and downwardly, and an implement having a slidable draft beam connection with said drawbar.

2. In an agricultural implement adapted to be drawn by a tractor, the combination of a front working section, a rear working section, means connecting said sections for flexible relative earth working movements, and means connected between said sections and free of direct connection with the tractor for vertically lifting and swinging the rearward section into proper posi tion upon lifting of the forward section to a predetermined elevation.

3. In combination with a tractor, an auxiliary power unit for the tractor, a pair of tension links connected with the tractor one at each side of the longitudinal axis of the tractor and extending rearwardly divergently therefrom, a transverse drawbar'connected at the rear en of said tension links, means connected with the auxiliary power unit and intermediate the ends of said links for lifting the same, a pull arrangement connected with the drawbar and extending forwardly to a position between the drawbar and tractor, and an agricultural implement including a draft beam having connection with the forward part of said pull arrangement, the draft beam of said agricultural implement having a transverse slidable and non-tiltable connection upon said drawbar whereby upon elevation of the tension links the implement will be lifted with the drawbar into a suspended position.

4. In an agricultural implement the combination of a front working section, a rear working section, means positively connecting said sections for flexible relative earth working movement so that they may tilt from a horizontal plane angularly to each other and so that the rear section may swing laterally with respect to the front section, and springs connecting the front section with the rear section at each side of the longitudinal axes of the sections, and which in relation to each other extend divergently rearwardly to their points of connection with the rear section, the same being of such nature that i an elevation of the front implement section will elevate and swing the rear implement section into alignment with the front section.

5. In an agricultural implement the combination of a front working section, a rear working section, means positively connecting said sections for flexible relative earth working movement so that they may tilt from a horizontal plane angularly with respect to the front section, a spring connecting the front section with the rear section at each side of the longitudinal axes of the sections and which springs in relation to each other extend divergently rearwardly to their points of connection with the rear section, the same being of such nature that an elevation of the front section will elevate swing the rear section into alignment with the front section, and means to limit the degree of extension of said springs as the rear section is lifted by the from; section when the latter is elevated.

6. In combination with a tractor, a front agricultural implement section having a drawbar connection with the tractor, a second and rear agricultural implement section flexibly connected upon positive pivot axes with the front section so that the second section can move with a vertical tilting action relative to the front section and with a horizontal lateral movement relative to the flrst section, means for directly lifting the first section off a ground surface from said tractor, and means connecting the front implement with the second section so that the second section will also be lifted at a predetermined elevation of the front section.

'7. In combination with a tractor, an auxiliary power unit upon the tractor, a tension linkage connected with the tractor and extending rearwardly therefrom, means connecting the power unit wlth'the linkage for lifting and lowering the rear end of the latter, an earth working implement, means for connecting the earth working implement in trailed relation with said linkage mechanism and for pivoting the earth working implement to swing laterally with respect to said linkage, and means including a brace directly connecting the implement with the tractor for effecting vertical lifting of the implement through the linkage, while maintaining the implement in substantially a horizontal position.

8. In a hitch mechanism for a tractor having a pair of laterally spaced tension links trailingly pivoted on its rear portion together with an auxiliary power unit on the tractor for swinging said links vertically about their pivots, the combination of a drawbar adapted to be secured transversely between the trailing ends of said links, a support rigid with said drawbar and projecting forwardly from it, an implement having a draft beam projecting forwardly, a pivotal connection between the forward end of said beam and the forward portion of said support for lateral swing of said draft beam about a pivot point located midway between said links and displaced sufficiently forwardly of the drawbar and adjacent the rear end of the tractor to afford a close coupling between the tractor and beam, and means connecting said beam and drawbar for slidable guiding of the beam by said drawbar in a horizontal direction upon lateral swinging of the beam about said pivotal connection.

9. In a hitch mechanism for a tractor having a pair of laterally spaced tension links trailingly pivoted on its rear portion together with an auxiliary power unit on the tractor for swinging said links vertically about their pivots, the combination of a drawbar adapted to be positioned generally transversely of the links adjacent their trailing ends, a support projecting forwardly of of passing beneath said the center of the drawbar and rigidly fixed thereto to constitute therewith a unitary structure, means for attaching said unitary structure to said links with said structure located between said links and spanning the space between them, an implement having a forwardly projecting draft beam, and a pivotal connection between the forward and of said beam and said unitary structure for lateral swing of said beam about a pivot point located midway between said links and closely adjacent the rear end of the tractor, said draft beam being disposed with at least a portion theredrawbar to limit the latters downward movement upon descent of said links but said beam being freely slidable relative to the drawbar in a direction longitudinally of the latter to obviate any impediment to the beam's lateral swing about said pivot point.

. auxiliary power 10. In a hitch mechanism for a tractor having a pair of laterally spaced tension links trailingly pivoted on its rear end portion together with an unit on the tractor for swinging said links vertically, the combination of an implement having a forwardly projecting draft beam which is rigid from end to end, a transverse drawbar adapted to be secured to the trailing ends of said links, a support adapted to be positioned between said links forwardly of said drawbar and providing a pivot for the fore portion of said draft beam for lateral swinging movement of said beam about a point located closely adjacent the rear end of said tractor and forward of the trailing ends of said links to afford a close coupling between the tractor and implement and thereby minimize the turning radius therefor, and means connecting said beam and drawbar for slidable guiding of the beam by said drawbar in a horizontal direction upon lateral swinging of the beam about said pivot as well as for lifting of said rigid draft beam by said drawbar when the latter is elevated, to thereby effect raising of said beam and the implement attached thereto as an incident to upward swing of the tractorborne links and the drawbar attached to the latter.

11. In a hitch mechanism for attaching a forwardly projecting implement draft beam which is rigid from end to end to a tractor having a pair of laterally spaced tension links trailingly pivoted on its rear end portion together with an auxiliary power unit on the tractor for swinging said links vertically, the combination of a hitch structure adapted to be positioned between said links and and means included in said hitch structure enproviding a pivot for the fore portion or said gageable with said drai't beam at a point reardraft beam for lateral swinging movement 01 said wardly of its pivoted tore portion for moving said beam about a point located closely adjacent the draft beam and the implement connected thererear end of said tractor and forward of the trail- 5 with vertically in accordance with the vertical ing ends of said links to aiiord a close coupling movements or said links.

between the tractor and implement and thereby minimize the turning radius of the implement, AUGUSTA P. McKAY. 

